The CEMS Global Alliance: 25 Years Old and Still Growing

PARIS, FRANCE, 11th October 2013, PRNewswire – A pioneering global business education programme offered in partnership by 28 leading business schools across four continents, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the addition of a new academic member and the graduation of approximately 900 students.

Established in December 1988 by four leading European schools (ESADE, HEC Paris, Università Bocconi and the University of Cologne), the CEMS Alliance designed the first truly European business education through one single master’s degree. At a time when the modern European Union did not yet exist, the Berlin Wall still stood, and the majority of business was conducted at a local, not international level, the CEMS programme allowed students to travel between member schools and countries for their studies, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed in the international markets of the future.

This year’s incoming class is CEMS’ largest and most diverse to date, made up of over 1,000 students from 67 different nationalities. Roland Siegers, Executive Director of the CEMS programme believes its popularity is due to its global presence. “It’s the only educational programme in the world in which there is no “home” or dominating cultural environment, meaning that once you become a part of it, the world becomes your home,” he says. “Whichever of the 28 member schools a student attends there are people within that university specifically dedicated to CEMS students and, after graduating, the CEMS network is so expansive that no matter where they go in the world, there are always alumni nearby to help in business or in adapting to a new environment.” In this sense, it is the entire CEMS community that is committed to developing these global citizens as business leaders.

Marking their 25-year anniversary, ESADE will host a three-day event that will bring together 2,500 members of the CEMS Alliance. Included in the celebrations will be the addition of Chile’s leading business school, the Universidad Adolfo Inbañez, to the programme and the graduation of a record number of CEMSMIM students. The event will take place at ESADE in Barcelona, where the CEMS Alliance was established.

Prof. Carlo Maria Gallucci Calabrese, Vice-Rector of International Relations and Students at Ramon Llull University and Professor of Marketing Management at ESADE Business School says, “It was at ESADE that the actual signing took place on 2 December 1988. Things have come full circle and, 25 years later, ESADE will now be the proud hosts of the 25th Annual Events, during which the first quarter-century of achievements by our remarkable alliance will be rightly celebrated.”

About CEMS

CEMS is the global alliance of 28 leading business schools, 64 multinational companies and 4 social partners awarding the CEMS Master’s in International Management. Together CEMS members offer to over 1000 students in 65 countries a unique multi-country experience, blending academic excellence and real-life business practice.

For more information about the CEMS Alliance, the Master’s in International Management programme or the 25 year anniversary event please contact Kerry Gill at BlueSky PR – kerry@bluesky-pr.net or +44(0)1582-790701